Aakash Chopra highlights India’s opener dilemma
Aakash Chopra had urged India to include a backup opener for the Asia Cup, stressing Abhishek Sharma’s role and questioning the futures of Samson and Gill.
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra stressed the need for a backup opener in India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. He also felt the team management would be unwilling to move ahead without Abhishek Sharma in the side.
“I don’t think anyone needs to go out. It’s important that you keep another opener with you. India didn’t pick a third opener (in the T20I series against England). They weren’t even thinking about who would open if either Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson loses form. If you don’t keep the third opener here, you will have to keep him in the World Cup,” stated Chopra in a video on his YouTube channel.
The former batter reflected on the lack of choices beyond Abhishek and Sanju Samson during the T20I series ahead of the Champions Trophy. He also noted that fielding both Samson and Shubman Gill in the XI could create issues with team balance, as Samson is likely to open and the middle-order is already filled with Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav.
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“However, if Shubman Gill is the third opener, do you want to make him sit on the bench? If you don’t do that and play him in the XI, in whose place will you play him? If that player’s name is Sanju Samson, who will keep? That is the problem. You don’t see Sanju Samson batting in the middle-order. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma will play at No. 3 and No. 4. Sanju at No. 5? That won’t be a good story,” he added.
Chopra further pointed out reasons why Samson and Gill might not find a spot in the Asia Cup squad. “Getting out five consecutive times against the short ball against England goes against Sanju. What goes against Shubman? If you want to make a destructive team, can Shubman Gill become a part of that DNA? That is the big question. Yashasvi Jaiswal can definitely become a part of that DNA, but are they thinking about Yashasvi?” remarked Chopra. India are grouped with Pakistan, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates in Group A of the Asia Cup, which begins on September 9.
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Last Updated on August 16, 2025
